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H1N1 vaccine production far less than forecast: WHO

By Reuters – Fri Sep 18, 2:23 AM PDT

GENEVA (Reuters) – Annual production of H1N1 vaccine will be "substantially less" than the 4.9 billion doses that the World Health Organisation (WHO) previously forecast, a spokesman said on Friday.

WHO spokesman Gregory Hartl told reporters that based on clinical test results from some 25 drug makers, weekly production was less than 94 million doses, adding: "The real figure will be substantially less than 4.9 billion."

In a statement, the WHO said that current supplies of pandemic vaccine are "inadequate for a world population in which virtually everyone is susceptible to infection."

(Reporting by Stephanie Nebehay; Editing by Jonathan Lynn)